optimization issues Archives

AppWizard

September 3, 2026

RPCS3 emulator devs slam Nvidia DLSS 5 as ‘AI-slop generator’ — says industry pushing ‘more upscalers and frame generation to hallucinate games and hide their lack of optimisation’

Developers at RPCS3 have criticized Nvidia's DLSS 5 technology, calling it an “AI-slop generator.” They noted that some individuals are testing a leaked DLSS 5 DLL on the RPCS3 renderer. The official RPCS3 account stated that they do not support technologies that obscure optimization issues. DLSS 5 is set to officially launch with NBA2K27 and aims to provide advanced neural rendering for improved visual realism. It will feature various AI models and controls for artists, but is resource-intensive and compatible only with RTX 50-series GPUs and GeForce Now. Some modders have managed to use the leaked DLL on older RTX 40-series graphics cards.

AppWizard

September 3, 2026

RPCS3 Team Won’t Touch Leaked DLSS 5, Calls the Output “Slop”

The RPCS3 development team has stated they will not incorporate the recently leaked DLSS 5 technology into their PS3 emulator, despite some users testing it. They expressed a preference to distance themselves from DLSS 5, criticizing the use of upscalers and frame generation that they believe obscure optimization issues. The team previously integrated AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), leading to discussions about their stance on different upscaling technologies. The leaked DLL from an early build of NBA 2K27 has been used in various PC titles with mixed results, but RPCS3 remains committed to game preservation, asserting that DLSS 5 does not align with their mission.

AppWizard

September 3, 2026

The Blood of Dawnwalker Suffers From Major Stutters and a 30FPS Cinematic Cap

Bandai Namco has released a new game titled The Blood of Dawnwalker, developed using Unreal Engine 5. Players are experiencing significant stuttering issues, particularly in the village area, which affects gameplay in this third-person action RPG. The game features a 30FPS cap on cinematic cutscenes, although some decision-based cutscenes run at an unlocked framerate. The prologue area runs smoothly, but performance deteriorates in the village, with frame rates dropping to 45-50FPS at Native 4K resolution. Enabling DLSS Quality allows for a consistent frame rate above 60FPS. The game's visual fidelity does not meet expectations for titles using the same engine, indicating potential optimization issues. A comprehensive performance analysis is forthcoming, testing various AMD and NVIDIA GPUs.

AppWizard

August 5, 2026

Statistically, your PC probably doesn’t come close to the recommended RAM requirement for this third-person shooter’s upcoming playtest

Cinder City is an open-world cinematic third-person shooter set in a dystopian near-future Seoul. The game's Steam page initially listed a requirement of 64GB of RAM, which was later corrected to a minimum of 32GB. A pre-alpha playtest is scheduled for August 14-16, available only to participants in the United States who are at least 16 years old and agree to a non-disclosure agreement. The publisher, NC, has indicated that final system requirements may be adjusted as optimization progresses. Additional playtests will be available in the future for a broader audience.

AppWizard

April 30, 2026

The Truth About PC Game Optimization: Why Your FPS Counter Is Lying About What’s Actually Broken

The term "badly optimized" in PC gaming is often used when a game does not meet players' expectations for frames per second (FPS) after release. Game performance is influenced by various factors beyond the graphics processing unit (GPU), including central processing unit (CPU) workloads, shader compilation, memory usage, and GPU driver behavior. Frame consistency is crucial; a game may have a high average FPS but still feel unsmooth due to inconsistent frame pacing. Performance is not dictated solely by the GPU; modern games require a balance across the entire system, including CPU and memory management. When a game exceeds its video RAM (VRAM) capacity, it can lead to stuttering as the system resorts to slower memory. Storage devices also impact performance, as modern games stream large amounts of data. Average FPS can be misleading; consistent frametimes are more indicative of a smooth experience. Benchmarks often include 1% and 0.1% lows to account for stuttering. Visual quality should align with performance demands, and well-optimized games allow players to achieve good visuals without significant performance loss. Shader compilation stutter can occur if shaders are compiled during gameplay, leading to interruptions. Technologies like NVIDIA DLSS and AMD FSR can improve performance but should not mask underlying optimization issues. The belief that older games were better optimized is a myth, as many faced significant performance issues at launch. Perceptions of optimization can vary among players, influenced by individual sensitivities to FPS and frametime fluctuations. A more nuanced approach to evaluating game optimization is needed, considering multiple criteria such as the scope of the game, performance data beyond averages, and the balance between visuals and performance demands.

AppWizard

April 25, 2026

This legendary game designer’s swan song strategy game isn’t off to the strongest start, but I’m still itching to play god

Peter Molyneux's game, Masters of Albion, has launched and received over 300 reviews on Steam within a few days, resulting in a mixed reception. The team at 22cans has received mild feedback, with some players noting optimization issues but showing willingness to engage. On the first day post-launch, the team addressed community concerns about performance and hinted at potential updates, including inverted mouse controls. Players have reported issues with placing essential structures before they become objectives, leading to potential soft-locks. The team released an update expressing gratitude for player support and constructive criticism. Masters of Albion is available in early access on Steam for .99, with a 10% discount during its first week.

AppWizard

February 14, 2026

High on Life 2 review

High on Life 2, developed by Squanch Games, is a single-player first-person shooter set to launch on February 13, 2026. The game has faced technical challenges, particularly performance issues on launch day, likely due to the complexities of Unreal Engine 5. Players have reported difficulties with navigation due to the game's detailed graphics, which can obscure critical gameplay elements. Reviewers have criticized the combat mechanics for lacking complexity, noting that the variety of weapons does not adequately address the challenges posed by enemies. High-end systems, including the RTX 5090 and Ryzen 7 9800X3D, have struggled to maintain consistent frame rates, with significant drops in certain levels despite averaging around 90 fps at high settings and 1440p. The recommended specifications include an RTX 4080 and i7-13700KF, indicating potential optimization issues during development. Despite these problems, the game is noted for its charm and lighthearted humor, offering a unique experience in the single-player FPS genre.

AppWizard

December 31, 2025

Worst Optimized PC Games of 2025

As of 2025, the following PC games are noted for their poor optimization: 7) Rise of the Ronin: Criticized for high GPU demands that do not justify the visuals, resulting in a chaotic experience on Ultra Settings. 6) Double Fine’s Keeper: Requires players to lower settings to Medium to achieve smooth 60FPS at Native 4K, despite its striking art style. 5) The Outer Worlds 2: Nearly unplayable with Ray Tracing enabled; struggles on mid-range PCs due to heavy reliance on few CPU cores, with stuttering issues and unimpressive graphics. 4) Borderlands 4: While a recent update has improved performance for GPUs with 8GB of VRAM, it still suffers from stutters and high GPU requirements. 3) Monster Hunter Wilds: Continues to face significant performance problems despite a recent update and promises for future improvements. 2) Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2: Experiences severe stuttering that can render it unplayable, with only minor hotfixes provided. 1) Oblivion Remastered: Plagued by stutters and bugs, with no updates since April, despite visual upgrades.

AppWizard

October 30, 2025

Exclusive: Android Auto is preparing home screen widgets — here’s your first look

Android Auto is set to introduce home screen widgets, codenamed “Earth,” allowing users to integrate widgets from mobile applications into the Android Auto dashboard. Currently, Android Auto features “Taskbar Widgets” for quick app controls. The new home screen widgets will enable users to select one widget to occupy one side of the home screen, taking up 35-40% of the width. To add widgets in the current beta version, users must navigate to Settings > “Customize Earth,” choose an app, confirm the selection, and manage the widget. Users need to grant permissions for widget creation, after which they can select from compatible apps. Widgets will display on the dashboard, with the Spotify widget showing playback controls but lacking song titles due to layout design limitations. Testing reveals varying performance levels among widgets, with the Pixel Weather widget functioning well when location access is enabled. Key limitations include the ability to display only one widget at a time, no option to add multiple widgets from different apps, limited size adjustment, and some widgets not functioning correctly due to design issues. Widgets that work well typically do not require opening their companion apps. Improvements and better compatibility are expected in future updates.

AppWizard

October 22, 2025

After 21 years of waiting, Bloodlines 2’s Steam reviews are exactly what I expected

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 has received a 'Mixed' rating on Steam, currently sitting at 56% positive feedback. The game suffers from poor optimization, a disjointed combat system, and a lackluster narrative, despite some strong character development, particularly with the Malkavian character, Fabien. Players feel the game does not adequately connect to its predecessor, with many stating it is "Bloodlines in name only." Performance issues, such as the inability to disable Motion Blur, have also been criticized. On launch day, the game peaked at over 27,000 players. Future patches and downloadable content may improve the experience.